The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-06-15

OF inc l4tn lnst tahlnS Denu'or ho"Sah
to task for reminding the News that
the public would comprehend its sys-
tenn of morality on the subject of con-
demning persons who accept brides
and not censuring those who give
brides but rather apologizing for
them" The editorial says: "Ihe
News has in no instance apologized
for corruptionists of any class"
Is not its position on the liquor ques-
ton standing apology for corrupt
ionists and although he ascribes "pri-
marily the fault for the corruption of
public officials to the people who elect
them" is he net seemingly oblivious
OF the fact that "THE TRUE SOURCE OF
THE EVIL" lies not in the people who
elect but in tie whisky as prime fac
tor, whose power is well known in all
elections and in the cunning manipula-
ton of the primaries by liquor men
who see that their tools are placed in
nomination on the ticket of both par
ties and especially OF the party in pow
or, so that no matter which ticket is
elected the tools of the traffic are on
top and ready to do the bidding OF
their masters? What wonder then that
there is both giving and taking of
brides? There is aspecies oil PRIMARY
a kind of primary OF theprimaries un.
known to the public where few po-
litical tricksters, perchancc in the back
room of some saloon make up the slate
and enter the PUBLIC primary with
everything cooked and primcd so that
after few complimentary ballots the
very men that had been selected from
the first are put in nomination and the
dear public who are immersed i'll bus
ness and don't make scheming pot
house politics profession, think they
have had free ballot at the primary.
God help and pity such freedom. 1t
was this kind of work that elected the
Eighteenth crime patching, poker play
ing legislature, two thirds of whom 1t
is said were indicted for the criminal
practices and procured the theft of
those indictments to prevent the ex-
posure of their characters in the courts
Were "the people" or the liquor pow
err in politics to blame PRIMARILY for
the corruption of that lvgisla-
ture? l agree with the
News, "that if there we're better
standard of honor, fidelity and eff
cheney among oflice-hclders there
would be less work for the bribe-giv-
crs; that the corruptionists would
have nothing TO do if there were no
legislators or other officials who could
be induced to accept brides"
"The PEOPLE elect these Official
agents." says tho News, "and there
fore are primarily responsible for the
fact that bribe-giving is possible. "
Let the News substitute whisky and
venal politicians, a score of whom are
now stumping our State in the inter-
ests of the liquor traffic aud the scales
will at once fall from its whisky
bleared eyes and it may then see the
"real nature and true source of the
evil" Now, with the vision of the
News thus cleared, and whisky and
venality in politics as a primary cause
Z instead of any peculiar methods OF
the people, 4" shall let the News talk.
eThc News holds that the methods
which obtain in choosing officials have
much to do with producing official
corruption. If the test of merit were
applied in political conventions there
would be fewer knaves in Office, and
tho conventions would be forced to
observe that test if the people would
demand il when assembled in final aud
general convention at the ballot box
With the methods" (whiskyl "that
now obtain in politics merit is about
the last thing considered, and the can
-didate is usually successful who is
most cunning and inscriptions in
manipulating primaries and conven-
tons, or who is fortunate to receive
the support of the special interests"
What special interests? "That desire